Contractor Michaniki has been awarded a €32.6 million contract from DEH, the public power corporation, to build the 1,050 m-long 68 sq m Mesochora Dam tunnel, the 470 m-long 78 sq m Pachtouriou tunnel and the 1,100 m-long 10 sq m Mesochora drainage tunnel. The Mesochora Dam and the Pachtouriou tunnels are road tunnels to improve the Arta-Trikala highway. The Mesochora Dam tunnel will cut through Cretaceous limestone and Tertiary flysch, which in the area consists mainly of clay, siltstone and sandstone. Two Atlas Copco jumbo drill rigs will be used simultaneously from two drives. Support with rockbolts, steel fibre-reinforced shotcrete, lattice girders, forepoles and grouted fiberglass dowels.The Pachtouriou tunnel, which already exists, will be widened within Cretaceous limestone using the drill/blast method. The Mesochora drainage tunnel will be constructed to solve slope stability problems. It will cut through flysch. A roadheader boom excavator will be used. Support mainly with rockbolts and steel fibre-reinforced shotcrete. Construction commenced as of 15th May, 2003 and will take two years to complete. Visit www.michaniki.gr 25/03.